I wasn't quite sure just what to expect with Pardon My Hearse: a Colorful Portrait of Where the Funeral and Entertainment Industries Met in Hollywood, by Allan Abbott and Greg Abbott, but I'm glad it caught my eye. It all started with two young men buying a used hearse so they'd have a place to sleep on camping trips. (They were geology majors, seems the best places to look for what they were seeking were not the best places for a tent). It evolved into a thriving business including all aspects of the, well, death, business. Eventually their expertise (not to mention limos, etc.) would be used in movies and TV shows. An impressive biography, actually, the folks involved were willing to work hard. If it wasn't available, they built it, if it was something they didn't know, they'd learn.

What does one do with a degree in medieval history? Caitlin Doughty, author of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory took a job in a crematory. Always fascinated with death, and how it is dealt with in various cultures, this gave her a chance to study that first hand. A most interesting and reflective memoir.

When bones were found when a sewer line was going in, work came to a stop, initially to be sure there was no indication of foul play. It turned out to be a much bigger find! Forgotten Bones: Uncovering a Slave Cemetery, by Lois Miner Huey is a young reader book explaining how the excavation was done, how it was determined to be a slave cemetery and how recreations of what the deceased might look like are done.

Other books on death and cemeteries (excluding mystery books, there are lots of those ;-)) may be found on the posts from September 30, 2014, March 18, 2014 and October 27, 2015.

Reading Hermit With Dog